Information

"These are all the books you requested," Li Xuan said as she entered the room, carrying a total of twenty books. "These ones are about the cultures, and these are the history books. Unfortunately, after consulting with my father, I could only provide you with two martial arts books."

Li Ming glanced at the two books, feeling curious about them. However, as expected, he couldn't read the words written on them. He would have to rely on Eyses to translate them for him later.

Li Xuan proceeded to explain the content of the two martial arts books. "The left one is called Luminous Breathing Technique. It's a foundational technique that allows you to gather Qi from your surroundings. The right one is called Seven Luminary Swords. It consists of seven foundational movements to help you face your enemies."

Li Ming nodded in gratitude. "Thank you," he said with a serious expression.

"I hope these books can accompany you for the next two days," Li Xuan said, smiling.

"Haha, I doubt they will be enough. But I'm grateful to have some books to keep me company," Li Ming chuckled, trying to lighten the atmosphere. Despite the recent assassination attempts, he wanted to convey to Li Xuan that their cooperation was still possible.

Although he had the option to leave, starting from scratch in a new clan would be challenging, not to mention that other clans might not be as welcoming as the Li Clan.

Unbeknownst to Li Ming, Li Xuan took his words seriously. She contemplated visiting him later to inquire about the books, making sure he had read them thoroughly. However, she needed to confirm that Li Ming had genuinely gone through all the books first.

Li Xuan nodded politely and closed the door, leaving Li Ming alone in the room. He then brought the books to the table and turned to Eyses.

"Eyses, can you summarize the books for me? I don't mind if the summaries are a bit long and detailed. I have plenty of time, and I want to write them down in that format," Li Ming requested.

"Understood. Please place the watch in front of each page for one second, and I will scan and summarize the content for you," Eyses responded.

"Alright," Li Ming agreed. As an outsider in this foreign land, he needed to understand the structure of the kingdom. Consequently, he began scanning the books that discussed the kingdom's structure.

"You are currently in the Kingdom of Wulun. The kingdom is ruled by Qing Qulan and possesses a harsh landscape of deserts, canyons, and nomadic tribes. Due to these characteristics, the kingdom emphasizes endurance, survival skills, and mounted combat."

"The canyons are located in the northwest, while the deserts mostly stretch across the eastern side. The Li Clan, surrounded by nomadic tribes, was once a large nomadic group that settled in this area. Unlike the eastern region, this land is abundant in resources, such as water and suitable conditions for raising livestock. However, there are not many volcanoes in the area."

"There are seven prominent clans in the kingdom: Jin, Liu, Wang, Chen, Zhang, Wu, and Li. You are currently in one of them, the Li Clan. All these clans directly serve the royal family."

"Each prominent clan has its own specialties, but there are also many lesser clans, either independent or vassals of the prominent ones. The Li Clan, in particular, has three vassal clans: Gu, Ma, and Wei Clans."

Li Ming diligently wrote down all the information, making additional notes for his own understanding. Writing in his native language ensured that no one else would be able to decipher his notes.

"Are there any threats to the Li Clan or the kingdom that I should be aware of?" Li Ming inquired.

"There are three other kingdoms neighboring the Kingdom of Wulun: Xuanwei, Fengling, and Yuandu Kingdoms."

Li Ming knew that if he were to achieve his goal of obtaining ten billion barrels of oil, he would have to expand to these other kingdoms. Therefore, he needed to familiarize himself with their cultures and structures from the beginning to avoid being caught off guard.

He continued writing down the details about the kingdom until he reached the section on culture.

"The culture in this world bears similarities to Earth. Instead of capitalism, it emphasizes Martial Honor and Respect. To be a respected martial artist, one must show respect to others, adhere to codes of conduct, and value personal integrity."

"Qi Cultivation and Spiritual Cultivation are also prevalent here. Qi is a life energy that flows within individuals, enhancing physical strength, martial arts abilities, and deepening spiritual connections."

"It's important to understand Martial Arts Traditions and Schools. These schools serve as hubs of knowledge, mentorship, and camaraderie, much like dojos on Earth. Prominent clans like the Li Clan often encompass a wide range of disciplines, from business to martial arts."

"The hierarchical structure of the kingdom consists of the royal family, prominent clans, lesser clans, sects or schools, and commoners."

"As for the art and cultural aspects, this kingdom values Calligraphy and Ink Painting, Martial Performances and Dance, Music and Instruments, Poetry and Literature, and Pottery."

Feeling a bit tired, Li Ming covered his eyes. He had spent the entire day focusing on writing down these details. While the main points weren't difficult, there was an overwhelming amount of information to digest.

Finally, he moved on to the martial arts section.

"The Luminous Breathing Technique is an ancient martial art practice that serves as the foundation for harnessing and channeling Qi. Qi is the life energy that permeates the world and resides within each individual," Li Ming read through the entire section, examining the pose depicted in the book. It was a comprehensive guide, starting with an introduction to the concept of Qi and progressing to the development of awareness to sense it.

Following the instructions, Li Ming believed that he could eventually sense Qi. However, he faced a dilemma. He didn't have much time to fully understand and practice the technique, considering he still relied on his guns for combat.

As expected from an AI, Eyses detected some peculiar explanations and missing details. Li Ming couldn't resist making notes to supplement the explanations. Even if he didn't cultivate Qi immediately, he wanted to document everything to avoid having to consult the book again in the future.

After finishing with the breathing technique, Li Ming proceeded to the section on swordsmanship. He realized that the swordsmanship described in the book differed from the foundational skills practiced by Li Xuan and other disciples of the Li Clan. Understanding that he was an outsider, Li Ming had no reservations about transcribing the details.

With this, he had completed his study of all the books. Although there were still many more books to read in order to fully grasp the intricacies of this world, Li Ming now possessed enough information to assimilate into the local culture to some extent.

"Well... it's quite fascinating to learn about a new world. I couldn't have imagined that I would be teleported here," Li Ming muttered to himself as he lay down on his bed, taking a moment to rest and reflect on his eventful day.

Unbeknownst to him, Li Xuan knocked on his door, interrupting his rest.

"It's Li Xuan," she announced.

Li Ming opened the door, allowing her to enter. Li Xuan brought the food tray with her, as she had been doing for some time, using these encounters to provide updates on the investigation.

"May I come in? We've made a breakthrough in the investigation," Li Xuan said.

"Sure," Li Ming agreed, stepping aside to let her in.

After placing the food tray on the table, Li Xuan couldn't help but glance at the papers Li Ming had been writing on. As expected, she couldn't read them, but there were two drawings that resembled the images from the original Breathing Technique book. There was also a question mark connecting the two images, with some notes written beneath it.

"Li Ming... Isn't this..." Li Xuan asked, her smile becoming awkward.

"Oh, you can't read it? You can take it away if it's not useful," Li Ming responded.

"Well, it's not exactly that. It might be rude for me to say this, but this breathing technique is slightly weaker than our Li Clan's foundational breathing technique. That's why you were allowed to read it. Even if the knowledge were to spread, it wouldn't harm the Li Clan. But I'm curious about what you've written here," Li Xuan said, pointing at the question mark.

"Oh, I see," Li Ming said, understanding her concern. "From my observation, there seem to be some minor flaws due to the differences in our body structures. So, I was contemplating whether I could make some adjustments to match our body's situation, potentially making it feel smoother."

"What?! Is that true?" Li Xuan exclaimed, surprised by his insight.

"Yeah," Li Ming confirmed. "When I tried it, it did feel slightly better."

"Can I try it?" Li Xuan asked, her expression serious.

"Sure, go ahead. I don't mind."

Li Xuan proceeded to follow the instructions in the original book, taking a deep breath. Surprisingly, Li Ming's adjustments made a noticeable difference. The technique felt much smoother, without any discomfort in the flow of Qi.

"This..." Li Xuan gasped. "What have you done? Did you fully comprehend it and correct all the mistakes?"

"I'm not a martial artist, so I couldn't make all the adjustments," Li Ming explained, shaking his head. "I only found five mistakes and made corrections for three of them based on my observations."

Li Xuan was left speechless. She never expected Li Ming to possess such expertise.

Frowning, Li Ming asked, "Is something wrong?"

"Would it be possible for me to make a copy of this?" Li Xuan asked, pointing at the papers.

"I don't mind. But before that, could you please share the breakthrough you mentioned in the investigation?" Li Ming reminded her of their original purpose.

"Oh!" Li Xuan scratched the back of her head, feeling slightly embarrassed. "We have some suspicions regarding the tenth elder. It appears that he might be a spy from another prominent clan. Currently, we're setting up some baits to expose him and identify the clan backing him. Once we have concrete evidence, we can take appropriate action."

"I see. Will my life be in danger again?" Li Ming inquired, understanding the seriousness of the situation.

"For now, please carry your weapon with you at all times. While I'll be by your side most of the time to protect you, there's a chance that the enemy might resort to drastic measures. It's better to be prepared," Li Xuan advised.

"Understood," Li Ming agreed.

"Then... can I..." Li Xuan's eyes kept wandering back to the papers on the table, eager to start transcribing them.

"Of course," Li Ming said.

"In that case, I'll fetch some paper and return shortly. Please finish your food in the meantime," Li Xuan said, unable to contain her excitement as she left the room to retrieve the necessary supplies.